Protective athletic mouth guard

ABSTRACT

A protective mouth guard is provided, comprising a U-shaped top segment molded to fit a user&#39;s maxillary teeth consisting of a right and left central incisor, a right and left lateral incisor, a right and left canine, a right and left first premolar, a right and left second premolar and a right and left first molar. A first bottom segment molded to fit the user&#39;s mandibular teeth consisting of a right first premolar, a right second premolar, and a right first molar. A second bottom segment molded to fit said user&#39;s mandibular teeth consisting of a left first premolar, a left second premolar, and a left first molar. The first segment joined to the first bottom segment via one or more connecting members and to the second bottom segment via the one or more connecting members such that the user&#39;s maxillary and mandibular teeth align to achieve a Centric Relation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a protective mouth guard, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a protective mouth guard that locks the user's jaw and engages a user's teeth in the Centric Relation position for enhanced concussion prevention.

BACKGROUND

Mouth guards are commonly employed in a wide variety of sports, especially contact and combat sports. In addition to absorbing the force from an impact to a user's head and mouth and protecting the user's teeth, mouth guards also prevent concussion. The effects of concussions may be short-term or long-term and range from temporary and mild to permanent and life altering. The effects of concussions can be compounded when an individual suffers from multiple concussion. The significant impact of concussions on one's health has resulted in a greater emphasis on concussion prevention and detection within sports science.

U.S. Pub. No. 2015/0360115 A1 (Moses) discloses a mouth guard for athletic performance enhancement. Shortcomings include the boil-and-bite aspect, which suffers from durability and fitting issues leading to a decrease in comfort and easy to dislodge, a lack of air circulation and suboptimal position of a user's jaw when the device is employed.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,671,947 B2 (Quigless) discloses a performance enhancing mouth guard containing transverse pins embedded in the right and left posterior occlusal base of the mouth guard. Shortcomings include the boil-and-bite aspect, which suffers from durability and fitting issues leading to a decrease in comfort and an increase in dislodging, and a lack of air circulation and suboptimal position of a user's jaw when the device is employed.

U.S. Pub. No. 2018/0133581 A1 (Segal) discloses a protective mouth guard molded from a user which accepts a user's upper incisors, upper canines, lower bicuspids and at least the first upper and lower molars while lower incisors, canines and second molars remain uncovered. Shortcomings include the 1-3 mm forward biting position presented as this position suboptimal for concussion prevention.

All documents cited herein are incorporated by reference.

There is a need for an athletic mouth guard that is molded from the user's mouth to provide a comfortable fit, helps prevent dislodging of the mouth guard, contains one or more side air vents to increase oxygen intake for the user to help with prolonged high-level athletic performance and is employed such that the user's jaw is clenched and the users teeth achieve the Centric Relation position, greatly reducing the potential for concussions to the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is the object of the present invention to provide a protective mouth guard.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a protective mouth guard comprising a U-shaped top segment molded to fit a user's maxillary teeth consisting of a right central incisor, a left central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a left lateral incisor, a right canine, a left canine, a right first premolar, a left first premolar, a right second premolar, a left second premolar, a right first molar and a left first molar, a first bottom segment molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth consisting of a right first premolar, a right second premolar, and a right first molar, a second bottom segment molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth consisting of a left first premolar, a left second premolar, and a left first molar, the first segment joined to the first bottom segment via one or more connecting members and to the second bottom segment via the one or more connecting members such that the user's maxillary and mandibular teeth align to achieve a Centric Relation.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the U-shaped top segment is molded to fit the user's maxillary teeth including one or more of a right second molar or a left second molar.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the U-shaped top segment is molded to fit said user's maxillary teeth including one or more of a right third molar or a left third molar.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the first bottom segment is molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a right central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a right canine, a right second molar or a right third molar.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the second bottom segment is molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a left central incisor, a left lateral incisor, a left canine, a left second molar or a left third molar.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the first bottom segment is molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a right central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a right canine, a right second molar or a right third molar and the second bottom segment are molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a left central incisor, a left lateral incisor, a left canine, a left second molar or a left third molar.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the first bottom segment and the second bottom segment are joined.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the first segment is composed of a Dual Laminate material.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the one or more connecting members are composed of a Dual Laminate material.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, absent material between the U-shaped top segment, the first bottom segment, the second bottom segment and the one or more connecting members are employed as an air vent for said user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view 100 in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view 200 in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view 300 in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an applied view 400 in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter of this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

FIG. 1 depicts a front view 100 of a protective mouth guard as in one embodiment. The protective mouth guard comprises a U-shaped top segment 102 molded to fit a user's maxillary teeth consisting of a right central incisor, a left central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a left lateral incisor, a right canine, a left canine, a right first premolar, a left first premolar, a right second premolar, a left second premolar, a right first molar and a left first molar, a first bottom segment 104 molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth consisting of a right first premolar, a right second premolar, and a right first molar, a second bottom segment 106 molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth consisting of a left first premolar, a left second premolar, and a left first molar, the first segment joined to the first bottom segment via one or more connecting members 108 and to the second bottom segment 106 via one or more connecting members 108 such that the user's maxillary and mandibular teeth align to achieve a Centric Relation position.

The Centric Relation position is created by placing the mandibular teeth 1 to 3 millimeters in a retruded position from maximum intercuspation, where the maxillary and mandibular teeth typically meet when they are closed together. This position is universally known, and it can be achieved by a laboratory technician fabricating the mouth guard with a user's unique dental structures. The Centric Relation position places the mandibular condyle in the most comfortable position in the cranial fossa of the skull, where a more retruded position of the condyle, closer to the cranial fossa, in the tempera-mandibular joint is achieved. This results in less space in the joint for the condyle to travel to hit the anterior wall of the fossa upon impact from a punch on the chin, for example.

In this example, a protective mouth guard is shown with the U-shaped top segment 102 composed of the user's maxillary teeth mold 110, the first bottom segment 104 composed of the user's right mandibular teeth mold 112 and the second bottom segment 106 composed of the user's left mandibular teeth mold 114 wherein the first bottom segment 104 is joined to the U-shaped top segment 102 via a connecting member 108 and the second bottom segment 106 is joined to the U-shaped top segment 102 via a connecting member 108. An inner cavity 116 is shown within the first bottom segment 104, the second bottom segment 106, and the U-shaped top segment 102. The inner cavity 116 in the first bottom segment 104 and second bottom segment 106 allow for a portion of the user's mandibular teeth to be inserted into the user's right mandibular teeth mold 112 and the user's left mandibular teeth mold 114 respectively. The inner cavity 116 in the U-shaped top segment 102 allows for a portion of the user's maxillary teeth mold 110 teeth to be inserted into the user's maxillary teeth mold 110. In some embodiments, the first bottom segment 104 and second bottom segment 106 are joined and may encompass all of the user's mandibular teeth.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view 200 of a protective mouth guard as in one embodiment. In this embodiment, two connecting members 108 joining the user's right mandibular teeth mold 112 to the user's maxillary teeth mold 110 of the first bottom segment 104 and the U-shaped top segment 102 respectively, and two connecting members 108 are shown joining the user's left mandibular teeth mold 114 to the user's maxillary teeth mold 110 of the second bottom segment 106 and the U-shaped top segment 102 respectively, and

The mouth guard mold is custom made for each individual from the individual's closed jaw, resulting in the mouth guard forcing the jaw to be locked as well as preventing the mouth guard from accidentally popping out while the mouth guard is employed. Having a clinched jaw during impact greatly reducing the potential of concussions.

In another embodiment, the U-shaped top segment 102 is molded to fit said user's maxillary teeth including one or more of a right second molar or a left second molar. In another embodiment, the U-shaped top segment 102 is molded to fit said user's maxillary teeth including one or more of a right third molar or a left third molar. In another embodiment, the first bottom segment 104 is molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a right central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a right canine, a right second molar or a right third molar. In another embodiment, the second bottom segment 106 is molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a left central incisor, a left lateral incisor, a left canine, a left second molar or a left third molar. In another embodiment, the first bottom segment 104 is molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a right central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a right canine, a right second molar or a right third molar and the second bottom segment 106 is molded to fit the user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a left central incisor, a left lateral incisor, a left canine, a left second molar or a left third molar.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view 300 of a protective mouth guard as in one embodiment. Similar to FIG. 2, this example displays two connecting members 108 are shown joining the user's left mandibular teeth mold 114 to the user's maxillary teeth mold 110 of the second bottom segment 106 and the U-shaped top segment 102 respectively. An air vent 302, created from an absence of the user's left mandibular teeth mold 114, is shown between the two connecting members 108, the user's left mandibular teeth mold 114 and the user's maxillary teeth mold 110. While traditional mouth guards restrict the user's ability to intake oxygen, the presence of one or more air vents 302 present within the mouth guard allows for an increase in oxygen intake, resulting in prolonged high performance.

In some embodiments, a Dual Laminate is used as the mold for the mouth guard. Dual Laminate is a highly sustainable and comfortable material for this design as opposed to poly (vinyl acetate-ethylene) copolymer clear thermoplastics, polyurethane, laminated thermoplastics or other materials employed for mouth guard composition. More specifically, the Dual Laminate is composed of a rigid outer layer accompanied by a soft inner layer which aids in avoiding cutting the user's gums and is highly durable compared to the previous materials which often break down after a couple months of rigorous use.

In another embodiment, the first bottom segment 104 is composed of a Dual Laminate material. In another embodiment, the second bottom segment 106 is composed of a Dual Laminate material. In another embodiment, the one or more connecting members 108 are composed of a Dual Laminate material. In another embodiment, absent material between the U-shaped top segment 102, the first bottom segment 104, the second bottom segment 106 and the one or more connecting members 108 are employed as an air vent 302 for the user.

FIG. 4 depicts an applied view 400 of a protective mouth guard as in one embodiment. This embodiment depicts a user employing the mouth guard such that the mouth guard is comfortably applied and secured from dislodging during use. The U-shaped top segment 102 is shown attached to the first bottom segment 104 via two connecting members 108 with an air vent 302 between the two connecting members 108.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments described were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. 

1. A protective mouth guard comprising: a U-shaped top segment molded to fit a user's maxillary teeth consisting of a right central incisor, a left central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a left lateral incisor, a right canine, a left canine, a right first premolar, a left first premolar, a right second premolar, a left second premolar, a right first molar and a left first molar; a first bottom segment molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth consisting of a right first premolar, a right second premolar, and a right first molar; a second bottom segment molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth consisting of a left first premolar, a left second premolar, and a left first molar; said U-shaped top segment fused to said first bottom segment via one or more connecting members and to said second bottom segment via said one or more connecting members such that said user's maxillary and mandibular teeth are capable of aligning to achieve a Centric Relation, wherein absent material between said U-shaped top segment, said first bottom segment, said second bottom segment and said one or more connecting members are capable of being employed as an air vent for said user.
 2. The protective mouth guard of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped top segment is molded to fit said user's maxillary teeth including one or more of a right second molar or a left second molar.
 3. The protective mouth guard of claim 2, wherein said U-shaped top segment is molded to fit said user's maxillary teeth including one or more of a right third molar or a left third molar.
 4. The protective mouth guard of claim 1, wherein said first bottom segment is molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a right central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a right canine, a right second molar or a right third molar.
 5. The protective mouth guard of claim 1, wherein said second bottom segment is molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a left central incisor, a left lateral incisor, a left canine, a left second molar or a left third molar.
 6. The protective mouth guard of claim 1, wherein said first bottom segment is molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a right central incisor, a right lateral incisor, a right canine, a right second molar or a right third molar and said second bottom segment are molded to fit said user's mandibular teeth including one or more of a left central incisor, a left lateral incisor, a left canine, a left second molar or a left third molar.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The protective mouth guard of claim 1, wherein U-shaped top segment is composed of a Dual Laminate material.
 9. The protective mouth guard of claim 1, wherein said one or more connecting members are composed of a Dual Laminate material.
 10. (canceled) 